Kim Nishida's Profitable Communities

Developing Your Own Personal Action Plan

2009-09-16T08:23:00.000-07:00

Adam Urbanski, known as The Marketing Mentor, is someone whom I highly respect for his ability to create solid, easy to understand plans that eliminate all of the guess work and leave nothing to chance.

Because I know that you probably don't have the time to sit and create a marketing plan from scratch (and believe me, that's not the most effective use of your time anyway), I recommend you take a look at Adam's Personal Action Plan.

His program gives you not only a sample of his very own Action Plan so you have a place to start, but also a fill-in-the-blanks marketing blueprint and a 2-hour training via audio and transcript on how to personalize it for your business.

Marketing "sprinters" are never going to get the best results. And the only way to become a successful Marketing "marathoner" is to have a plan. Why not borrow one from someone who has already succeeded in multiple businesses and has advised 7-figure entrepreneurs?

To read all about it and receive instant access, click here.

What's Important IS the Most Urgent

2009-09-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

There are a few books that nearly every entrepreneur has (or should have) on their bookshelf. These include, The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber, Good to Great by Jim Collins and, of course, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. (Do you have a business book that you absolutely swear by? I'd love to know what it is.)

In Covey's book, he introduces the concept of urgent tasks vs. important ones and lays them out into four quadrants. This includes activities that are...

I. Both Urgent and Important

II. Important But Not Urgent

III. Urgent But Not Important

IV. Neither Urgent Nor Important

Check out the diagram above to see an example of what typically falls into each quadrant.

In Quadrant II (Important, But Not Urgent), preparation and planning lies at the top of the list along with relationship building and values clarification.

The problem is, while you know you need to do what I call "marathon" activities like long range, strategic planning, come up with an organizational chart and job descriptions for your team, write a batch of articles, blog posts, and press releases, or follow up with and survey your currently happy clients and customers, most business owners put these actions at the very bottom of their list.

And guess what? That means, they never get done.

Sound familiar? I had private sessions with almost 40 entrepreneurs last month and discovered that nearly every single one of them knew what was "important" but couldn't find the time to do it.

What do they do instead? They focus their time and attention on what I call "sprint" activities. These are often fueled by adrenaline, like struggling to meet deadlines or trouble shooting sudden emergencies. (Both, ironically, often caused by poor planning.) Or their sprint tasks are short distance, instant gratification jobs like sending emails, tweeting, filing papers...anything that has a definite finish line.

Yes, life gets in the way. And yes, unexpected situations and opportunities arise that you feel you must take priority. But if writing your business plan, creating your marketing calendar, or investing time in building relationships doesn't happen, your business is never going to move forward. You're going to look around 3 years from now and discover you are in exactly the same spot with the same challenges, cash flow, and excuses.

Why not cut it out now and save yourself some time? Let's commit to taking care of those most important tasks as soon as possible.

Here are 3 tips to help you take care of those "long distance" activities sooner rather than later:

Schedule an out of office retreat: Seriously, if you stay in your office or standard work environment, you will get sucked back into those "urgent but not important" tasks like phone calls, emails, and various distractions. Remove yourself from where you sit everyday and you just might get some much needed perspective. Make sure you block out at least a half day on your calendar (a full day or even two is better)...and write it down in ink, not pencil. (Does anyone still use hard copy calendars like me?)
Work in front of an audience: Just like when I was on the track team and had both teammates and a coach to supervise, challenge, and observe my performance, having someone there to simply witness what you are doing might be all you need to finally get things done. I also highly recommend hiring your own coach to keep you on track, focused, and accountable. Or join a mastermind group and/or get a fellow entrepreneur to be your buddy.
Put it in writing and keep it in front of your face everyday: Many entrepreneurs are highly creative visionaries who often "can't be bothered with the details." If you are someone who generally keeps all the details of your business in your head (which makes it virtually impossible to delegate any part of your business to someone else, by the way), you REALLY need to pin yourself down and put your plan on paper. Again, you might want to hire someone to help you with this as creating systems and detailed plans is probably not one of your strengths. And when you are finished, you must keep it some place visible to ensure you will actually follow your plan on a daily basis.

I am not a big fan of reinventing the wheel. Much of the important planning and systems creation you need to do can be "borrowed" from other successful business owners. If you typically experience "writer's block" when confronted with a blank computer screen, look for examples of what others have already created. The One Page Business Plan for the Creative Entrepreneur by Jim Horan is a great resource.

Also, see my recommendation below for another tool that includes examples and templates for your very own essential marketing plan...

Sprints Vs. Marathons

2009-09-15T08:18:00.000-07:00

I've spoken to more than a few full-time and wannabe entrepreneurs lately who say that their stress levels have never been higher. And at times, I can definitely lump myself in with that group!

Sometimes that's just part of working and being in business. But there are times when you need an outlet to relieve the tension. One of my clients recently posted a video about how she takes breaks during the day to play with her dog. Me? My favorite thing to do is go for a run, especially at the beach.

When I was in high school, I was a competitive sprinter and jumper. I hated having to run more than a couple of laps around the track because, in my mind, I was strictly a short distance girl. When I questioned my coach about why I needed to run 3 miles if my best distance was only 200 meters, she replied, "Trust me. It's important."

And she was right. Logging in those longer distances was not nearly as fun or glamorous as the sprints, but they laid the foundation for the explosive power and speed I needed to finish strong.

As age caught up with me, I reluctantly transitioned to being a long distance runner. (That's me in the middle of that photo, finishing my one and only marathon in Honolulu a few years ago.) Now those longer distances are what I love the most.

Sprints and marathons are also part of running a business. Sometimes you have to push through short, intense periods, especially when trouble-shooting or putting out fires. Other times, you need to slow down the pace and keep it smooth and steady. In my opinion, it's the marathons in business that truly set you up for success.

"Interview Series Profits"

2009-09-10T08:30:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun during the interview I did recently with Tom Buford about his Interview Series Profits program and the feedback from the folks who showed up was amazing.

Tom really outdid himself, sharing lots of tips and "secrets" about why and how to create an expert interview series to help you grow and promote your business.

I personally learned a ton! Here are some of the gems Tom shared:

=> One of the easiest ways to get others to give you referrals to potential guest experts for your series
=> How to set everything up in advance to make it extremely easy for your wish list of guest experts to say "yes"
=> Why you might not want to keep the series intact and how you can leverage each interview into an incredible list builder

Plus a whole lot more. If you missed it, you can still listen and learn from Tom. The special offers he made during the call have expired, but I guarantee you will walk away from this audio with solid action steps you can take immediately.

To listen, click here.

Hate Public Speaking?

2009-09-09T10:30:00.000-07:00

"How to Boost Your Credibility, Visibility, and Likeability At the Same Time"

I work with and speak to entrepreneurs all the time and one of the most common questions I hear is, "How can I get more people into my network and, once I am connected to them, how can I get them to become clients and customers for life?"

Let's address one issue at a time...

#1: Getting more people into your community is all about good marketing and networking, whether that is via the internet or in person.

Above all else, you must have a clear message that addresses who you can help and what you can do for them.

If you are going to grow your list of connections via the web, then there are many different strategies you can use such as article marketing, social networking via Twitter, LinkedIn, & Facebook, blogging, pay-per-click advertising, and pod-casting to name just a few. The list is endless.

Some of these strategies, such as article marketing, are very effective but can take a lot longer to payoff. Others, like social networking and blogging can be very time consuming if you don't have the right strategies in place.

If you focus your efforts more on in person networking and you work with small business owners, then hitting the local leads groups and chamber of commerce meetings are good places to start.

#2: Getting people on your list is one thing, but turning them into customers is another.

Shaking hands and collecting business cards can get you a lot of "followers" and "friends" on the internet or names in your database, but it doesn't necessarily mean that these connections will ever translate into money for your business.

In order to do that you must start building the "know, like, and trust factor" that is critical to getting people to invest their time and money with you. With so many competitors and alternatives out there, a potential customer needs to feel that they know who you are, that you are someone they want to spend more time with, and that you are someone who is trustworthy and credible.

Hands down, the fastest way to create that connection is through public speaking, whether that's via an in person speaking gig or via the virtual world of teleseminars or webinars.

The top concerns I hear regarding public speaking are:

"I have a fear of public speaking" and/or "I'm afraid I'll screw up and sound like an idiot."
"I don't have anything new to teach."
"No one will want to listen to me because I don't have a proven track record."

If any (or all) of those statements sound familiar, then a great strategy for you is to enter the public speaking arena not by taking center stage, but by interviewing the experts themselves.

This allows you to position yourself as a leader who is concerned with the same issues as your potential clients which in turn, helps you build rapport with them.

Plus you can then turn the recording of those interviews into either promotional tools or products.

I've had great success getting new clients via hosting free interviews I did with folks who had experience with topics that I don't consider my area of expertise, such as growing your business via Facebook groups, engineering successful product launches and creating quick content.

Not only did I get new clients, I rapidly built my subscriber list and made great connections with successful business owners who I can potentially partner with again in the future.

3 Ways to Save Yourself Time & Money Today

2009-09-07T13:33:00.000-07:00

"3 Ways To Save Yourself Time & Money Today"

Do you ever feel like technology has made your life more complicated?

I actually thought that all these great advances in how we communicate via cell phones, social media like Facebook, and texting in addition to the amount of information and tools that can be accessed via the internet would simplify my life.

Unfortunately, this has not turned out to be the case. Instead of saving time, many of these devices actually demand more from us.

Here are 3 of my favorite tactics to save time using technology. And because many of them are free, they are also a great way to save money.

Plus as someone I'm connected with via Twitter, Jennifer Davey, once tweeted, "Time is money for any business, but especially for the small business."

Have your voicemail messages transcribed: If you are on the go a lot or just not that fast a typist, you can save a lot of time by speaking your sales copy, articles, or email messages and having someone else transcribe them. Here are 2 services that take your voice mail messages and translate them into print for you:
1. Google Voice: A new and free service from the clever folks at Google, this service has too many features to mention here. But my favorite is the fact that it transcribes my new voice mail messages and sends them to me both as a text message and as an email. I often leave myself messages when I am out and about (like at the beach) that I can retrieve later. Back at the office, I copy and paste the contents into a website, email, or word document and save myself all that typing. They are currently only allowing new users to sign up by invitation only but you can sign up to get on the waiting list.
2. Jott.com: This is another great service that I recommended when they were completely free and in beta testing mode. Since then they have listened to their users, made significant upgrades and now charge for different services which includes voicemail transcriptions. You can try it for free for 7 days.
Have an "assistant" schedule your meetings: If you have a lot of meetings to schedule, it can be a hassle to manage it all yourself. Plus the margin for messing up a time zone or even getting the days mixed up can be pretty huge. These online services handle everything for you, from allowing clients to select a session time, to having them answer specific questions in advance, sending you both written notification and reminders, and translating time zones.
1. Timedriver.com: This is the service I currently use and, although it is not without its glitches, it has saved me hours of time. Currently offering 90 days free, $29.95/year
2. Clickbook.net: This one has more bells and whistles than I personally need but offers their service for free.
3. GenBook.com: A third option with a service level that is completely free. You can upgrade if you want more features such as text reminders or want to book appointments past 30 days.
Ask people what they want: As simple as it sounds, this one can save you hundreds of hours potentially wasted on developing products, services, or marketing campaigns. Conducting periodic surveys truly keeps you in touch with what your clients want the most. And online surveys can quickly compile the information for you so you can keep things organized.
1. Zoomerang.com: Free service level allows up to 30 questions, 100 responses per survey.
2. SurveyMonkey.com: Free service level allows up to 10 questions, 100 responses per survey.
3. FreeOnlineSurveys.com: Free service level allows up to 20 questions, 50 responses per survey.

With all of these options, take the time to check out which one suit your style of learning and personality the best.

Remember, life is short. Don't miss it.

The 5 Lies You Tell Yourself Before Lunch

2009-09-04T10:07:00.000-07:00

If you read bestselling business books like First, Break All the Rules and Now, Discover Your Strengths, you might buy into the notion that you shouldn't waste a lot of time trying to fix your weaknesses but rather, concentrate on focusing your efforts in areas where you naturally excel.

That's great, but what if the parts of your personality, aptitude, and/or skill set that you consider to be your weaknesses are just great big lies you (or others) tell?

Let me give you an example.

Actor, Reese Witherspoon, who won an Academy Award for singing and acting as country music singer June Carter in the movie Walk The Line wanted to be a singer when she was a girl but had been told in summer camp by an instructor, "I like you, but don't ever sing again."

When she was offered the June Carter role she said, "As long as I don't have to sing. I can't sing." Although she was initially assured she wouldn't have to sing, the director later changed his mind. Witherspoon says,

"When this came up, I said, 'I can't sing. So I'm not going to sing.' He said, 'I need you to try.' It ended up being a good thing because this little seed that was planted in my mind became a huge thing, and it was good to conquer that fear."

"I can't sing" was a belief she held onto until someone "planted the seed" that this belief might not be true. Only from there could she begin to expand her possibilities.

Witherspoon's story is not unique. Here are some lies I heard clients, colleagues, and friends admit to in the last 7 days:

I'm not a good marketer.
I'm not smart enough.
I'm not an "idea" person.
I can't be social because I'm an introvert.
I'm not an organized person.

Sometimes these statements are made with regret. Other times they are made with pride. These beliefs have become part of the speaker's identity. It's part of who they are, "I'm not an organized person. Take it or leave it."

It's easy to use what I call the "5 Lies You Tell Before Lunch" as an excuse not to try, not to explore possibilities and to instead, stay stuck in a rut, doing business the only way you know how.

And, let's face it, don't nothing is much easier than facing your fears or putting in some extra effort to overcome a challenge.

To explore whether this concept applies to you, ask yourself these 3 questions:

What stories do I tell myself about who I am as a business owner?
What stories do I allow others to tell me about myself? (Look to the people who "know you best" like your family and friends from past episodes in your life such as high school, who now pop out of the woodwork via places like Facebook and Classmates.)
How do you know that these stories are true for you today, no matter what your past track record shows?

And maybe these stories are true for you. No judgments from me. That's when it's time to delegate or work around your weaknesses.

Go out and buy books like Now, Discover Your Strengths and Strengths Finder 2.0 and knock yourself out.

Got Your Pink Spoon?

2009-09-03T16:05:00.000-07:00

"Making Website Visitors An Irresistible Offer"

Speaking of starting movements and building communities, if you have a website, do you have a highly successful strategy for converting your web visitors into subscribers to your mailing list and then into paying clients and customers?

I know some business owners who routinely get 100s of new subscribers to their list every week. But they don't just have a boring "Sign up for my newsletter" offer on their site. They use what some call "Pink Spoon Marketing," a phrase coined by Andrea J. Lee, which means they offer an enticing free sample of something that visitors simply can't pass up.

Coming up with the "right" free offer is tricky because you don't want it to cost more of your time (remember, you want 100s and 1000s of new subscribers each week) and it has to be something irresistible to your target market.

I've seen this method work for coaches as well as dentists, accountants, and insurance agents. Please don't write this concept off as something that "won't work for me."

Two marketing communications experts I greatly respect, Linda Claire Puig, of Ready2GoArticles.com, and Linda Dessau, of YouTalk-IWrite.com, have put together a course called the Pink Spoon Telecamp to help you learn all about pink spoons and how to use them to market yourself.

The best part, though, is that during the course, they'll also help you create your own pink spoon so that by the end of it, you'll have yours ready to put into place to attract your ideal clients and prospects!

They are offering tons of resources and perks. I particularly like the fact that they provide fill-in-the-blanks worksheets so you don't have start completely from scratch.

Some important details:

=> The course starts next week.
=> You'll also receive everything on CD and DVD.
=> They are currently offering $100 off but that ends TODAY.

Click here to read all about it...

My suggestion: Whether you decide to take their course or not, register on this page to listen to the free training that Linda and Linda gave recently. It's called "Help! My Website's Not Working!" and it's full of meaty content. Plus it's a great example of how Pink Spoon Marketing works.

To read all about it and save $100 today only, click here.

How to Start A Movement

2009-09-03T15:51:00.000-07:00

If you were a conscious adult in the 1980s then you might be all too familiar with the term NIMBY which stands for "not in my back yard." Although there are a lot of negative connotations associated with that acronym, I generally like to think of it as a symbol for community activism, which can often be a very good thing.

(You might recall I mentioned in an earlier issue that I went to UC Berkeley, well known for being the site of some notable protests including the Free Speech Movement in the 60s. Plus, I worked for the publishing house of Sierra Club in San Francisco, another organization known for bringing people together to take a stand.)

Rallying around a cause do several things for your business:

Stir up emotions: Think about some of the most effective marketing campaigns you have ever experienced, whether it was a TV commercial, magazine ad, or billboard.

What made it memorable for you? Was it the funniest thing you ever saw? Or the most bittersweet or controversial? What do you feel right now when recalling that moment? YouTube is a great place to witness silly, bizarre, or super cool marketing videos that go viral quickly because they make an impact and get passed around.

Generally, the stronger the emotions, the more memorable the experience. The last thing you want is for your message to be bland or tepid.

Polarize your audience: When you convey a strong message or point of view, prospective members will find it easy to love you or hate you (and that's a very good thing--see point #1).
Bond members of the community together: When you start connecting people together and cultivate a sense of family, a wonderful thing happens...members start bringing more members to you and people stay longer because they have a sense of belonging.
I'm going to cover some of these points in more depth over time. But a good place to start cultivating your own community right now that is also directly related to supporting and growing your business is via social networking sites like LinkedIn and Twitter.

These sites are great places to do research to see how others lead their tribes as well as experiment with and receive instant feedback about your message.

If you're trying to be funny, are your messages landing the right way? Do people naturally gravitate towards your movement or is that the sound of crickets that you hear when you get up on your soapbox?

A great example of effective social networking leadership is the highly profitable group that my colleague, Donna Kozik, created on Facebook. I recently interviewed her about how she created her group on a whim and how she then turned it into a vibrant community with members who asked her how they could pay her to lead them further. How cool is that?

To gain access to this interview as well as receive the complete transcripts and my personal Success On Facebook Cheat Sheet, click here.

Think about the questions in this article and understand that you already have a community of some sort.

The trick lies in taking responsibility for purposely evolving that community into a network that supports you and your business instead of waiting for someone else to take a stand or hoping a spontaneous movement for your business will spark on its own.

I'm Flipping Out

2009-07-22T16:24:00.000-07:00

Yes, I finally succumbed to the peer pressure to purchase a Flip video camera for my business...and I love it!

In case you don't know what a Flip video camera is, here are some facts: it's very compact (about the size of an iPhone), it's "idiot proof" (there are only 3 buttons), and it uploads your videos directly to the internet via a USB connection.

Check out my first video, shot within 30 minutes of checking out at my local Target Store:

5 Ways to Put More Fun In Your Business

2009-07-17T10:13:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the classic movie, "The Shining" with Jack Nicholson? One of my favorites scenes is when his wife discovers that the manuscript he's been working on in a remote, isolated hotel, miles from any other human contact contains 100s of pages with the same sentence written over and over again, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." Gulp!

As an entrepreneur, it's easy to isolate yourself in your own world that consists primarily of 4 office walls, a to do list that's a mile long, and zero boundaries as far as what times your work day starts and ends. You might take pride in this and tout it as a strong work ethic. And you might be right...for most businesses, skating by just isn't going to cut it these days.

However, working too hard can also lead to lack of motivation and creativity, drops in productivity, and even death. (OK that last one probably sounds a little extreme, but the Japanese use a term, karoshi, which literally means "death from overwork.")

To see what entrepreneurs are doing to put a little bit of fun into their business, I conducted an informal survey. Here are the top responses:

Take It Outside: If you work in an office and especially if you work from home, try to schedule a little work time at the beach, local park, or even just the backyard. Some people recommended making meetings "mobile" by using their cell phone during outdoor strategy sessions. Others actively schedule certain business activities that can be done in their favorite fresh air venue.

Tweak Your Environment: Incorporate more of what inspires fun into your work space. This could be music, games, photos, kids, or pets. One woman confessed she keeps cans of Play-Doh on her desk. (Take a break right now and watch this fun, short video featuring 2.5 tons of Play-Doh and a 30-ft rabbit, by clicking here.)

Schedule (And Take) a Vacation: A study shows that up to 42% of American cancel their vacation plans "regularly." Another study, done by NASA scientists, concluded that "vacationers experienced an 82% increase in job performance post-trip" but that taking 2 or 3 days off did not deliver the same benefit as getting away for a couple of weeks. Put it on the calendar and then put the necessary pieces in place so your business can run without you while you're gone.
Do What You Love: This is where you hit the sweet spot. When you love everything you do in your business, everything feels like play. Hopefully, pursuing a field that you are passionate about or that allows you to use your strengths is one of the main reasons you started your business in the first place. Still, parts of running a business might get you down. So if you only love certain aspects of what you do, see if you can delegate out the rest.

Play Well With Others: Instead of working like a hermit in a self-imposed cubicle, mix and mingle with people you enjoy. Hunt and gather people with whom you actually want to spend time with and put them on your team, in your virtual communities & networks, and add them as clients.

Author, Seth Godin, has this to say in his book, Tribes:

"'Life's too short' is repeated often enough to be a cliche, but this time it's true. You don't have enough time to be both unhappy and mediocre. It's not just pointless, it's painful. Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you ought to set up a life you don't need to escape from."

This is a bit of a contradiction with point number 3 above, but very wise advice. Design your business the right way and you won't feel the need to runaway.

Why Plan B Is the Entrepreneur's Sidekick

2009-07-16T21:04:00.000-07:00

Did you read a lot of comic books when you were a kid? If so, you might have noticed that many of the big name superheroes have sidekicks who are definitely the B players. They aren't big enough to be the headliner, but they make themselves useful now and then and sometimes even save the day.

What about you? Do you have a "sidekick" in your business? (Otherwise known as a Contingency Plan or what I like to call Plan B.)

In the New York Times bestseller, Made to Stick by Chip & Dan Heath, the authors mention an expression in the Army that goes simply, "No plan survives contact with the enemy." The same is true in life and in business and, as an entrepreneur, you've got to have that sidekick ready to go just in case of an emergency. And I guarantee, no matter how much planning you do in advance, something unexpected is bound to show up once in a while to spoil your day.

For instance, I taught a training called Tweeting for Dollars (For Clueless Entrepreneurs Only). If you missed it, grab your free CD here.

30 minutes before the call, I pulled up my conference line dashboard and made sure everything was set up correctly. Then 10 minutes before the training was scheduled to begin, my dashboard suddenly refreshed and flashed the words "Sorry, this event is over."

Houston, we have a problem.

In 8 minutes, I quickly put Plan B into action: I set up a new conference event, sent out a group email with the corrected information and managed to start the call on time. Afterwards, when the conference system would not release the audio recording of the event, I submitted a trouble ticket to let the conference service know about all the problems.

Here is their reply,

"This was an issue earlier brought to our attention, we have since resolved the issue. Our ISP changed one of our server's time zones for admin purposes without consulting with us. This caused the computer to think it was 7 hours in the future (when your event would be over) -- We changed the time zone, and it appears to be working now."

Can you plan for this kind of stuff? It's impossible! But you can prepare according to the belief that "No plan survives contact with the enemy."

Do you have back-up systems in case your computer crashes? (SOS Online Backup, Carbonite, and Mozy are good online options to check out.) If you record telephone conferences, do you have more than one recording system? Do you have someone who can step into your business and keep things running in case of an emergency? In other words...who's your sidekick? I encourage you to create the back up systems necessary to give you more freedom and less stress in your business.

Does Twitter Make Sense 2U?

2009-06-19T14:34:00.000-07:00

Unless you have been living under a rock (never a good thing for an entrepreneur to do, by the way), you have at least heard about Twitter and maybe even understand what it's all about.

However, if you are like most business owners who don't already work in the world of internet marketing, you have probably wondered why everyone is making such a fuss over something with a ridiculous name.
Here is the straight scoop. . . .For small business owners, Twitter is about (in this order):

Building relationships (establishing the know/like/trust factor at light speed)
Sharing valuable information (and indirectly displaying your expertise)
Doing market research (paying attention to what others are saying and asking questions)

Inviting vs. selling (opening the door to having prospects continue a relationship with you outside of Twitter)

As you can see, these four components might not seem to relate directly to dollars for your business. But it's actually just like a turbo charged version of in person or traditional networking.

Make your messages so appealing, useful, and engaging that you are the one constantly popping up on the radar of your ideal client. Once he/she has an awareness of you, the next step is to get him to relate to you outside of Twitter.

How? Put your web address in your Twitter profile, tweet about a special event you are hosting, share links to useful articles on your site. Structure your site so visitors can opt in to your mailing list in exchange for an irresistible freebie.

Once you have a prospect on your list, you now have his/her permission to continue building that relationship via email marketing as well as promoting any products or services you offer which translates directly into making that cash register ring. (Check out my hand drawn chart to see this system illustrated if you are of a more visual learner.)

Still not on board with Twitter? You might have to see it in action. . .I share all my best tips, news, and announcements via Twitter. Feel free to use me as a case study by "following" me at: Twitter.com/KimNishida.

How to Convert Audio to mp3 Via iTunes

2009-02-20T13:37:00.000-08:00

Want to convert an audio to an mp3 file in iTunes? So did one of my clients so I made a quick video tutorial for her...and I'm happy to share it with you.

What's the Big Deal About LinkedIn?

2009-01-23T18:14:00.000-08:00

I hope you are already off enjoying the weekend!

I'm working late on a Friday because this week just flew by and I realize I never mentioned to you that the next interview in the "We Learned the Hard Way So You Don't Have To" interview series is coming up on Monday at 2pm Pacific...

==================================
Date: Monday, January 26th, 2009
Time: 2pm Pacific/5pm Eastern

What: Get in the Game with LinkedIn,
An Interview with Roberta Hill of 1-Focus.com

Register:
http://readytoevolve.com/membership/roberta.htm
==================================

Roberta is a LinkedIn veteran who jumped in years ago when it was just another new platform that might either thrive or go bust (does anyone even remember Friendster any more?)

If sites like MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter seem a little too unprofessional to you, LinkedIn is the answer. It's mostly populated by small business owners and corporations who want to draw the line between personal and private.

But it can be difficult to break in there and build your network the right way. There are definitely different rules that apply, so join us to learn the "easy" way.

To register for the call and also receive access to the replay sign up here:
http://readytoevolve.com/membership/roberta.htm

Questions? Please contact me.

What Can You Change Today?

2009-01-19T16:37:00.000-08:00

Being the owner of your own business means you have to be the master of change because business isn't static. The needs of your market change, the economic environment changes, the trends change...and you need to respond.

More than being a master of change, I want to encourage you to be a leader in both business and in life.

To commemorate Martin Luther King day here in the States, I'm sharing this short video that states a beautiful call to action and, I hope, an inspiration to stand up and do something today to effect positive change in your world.

Check out the video at The King Center.

Want to Learn From a New Kid On the Block?

2009-01-08T16:48:00.000-08:00

I don't actually. I'd rather learn from someone who's been in the trenches, so to speak...who has experience in what they claim to teach.

Join me tonight at 5pm Pacific time as I interview a veteran of the Web 2.0 scene. She's been involved since before Social Media was a buzzword!

Her name is Biana Babinsky and you can read all about this free event and register at:
http://readytoevolve.com/membership/bianab.htm

I hope to see you there!

Free List Building Seminar This Friday

2009-01-06T14:34:00.000-08:00

Biana Babinsky, the online business coach and expert will be
teaching a no charge teleseminar, 3 Keys For Building Your
List, this Friday, January 9th, at 2pm Eastern Time.

Here is what you will learn during this teleseminar:

=> How to add more people to your list than you have ever
thought possible
=> The best marketing techniques to use to build your list
=> How to use your list to promote your products and services
and much more.

I've learned a ton from Biana. She always delivers top-notch material!

Register for the 3 Keys For Building Your List Teleseminar
now by clicking here.

You Really Don't Have to Learn the Hard Way

2009-01-05T18:11:00.000-08:00

Why should you when so many others have already gone before you, hitting their heads against the wall, creating terrific messes, and falling short? Wouldn't it make more sense to learn from their mistakes instead of recreating them yourself?

On that note, I created the "We Learned the Hard Way So You Don't Have To" interview series. The guest will speak on a variety of topics, mostly related to growing your business using various tools and tricks on the internet.

Up first is Donna Kozik of MyBigBusinessCard.com. She successfully (and very quickly) launched a group on Facebook that ended up nabbing her a ton of new subscribers and clients.

She shared with me privately that even with her success, there are lots of things she would do differently and she's going to spill the beans as I interview her live...

Tuesday, January 6th, 2009

5pm Pacific/8pm Eastern

It's absolutely free to listen during the call live. Click here to register and get the instant call info.

Is It Time To Work Harder or Smarter?

2008-12-10T17:36:00.000-08:00

I'm offering a free teleclass (that's a training that's done via telephone) tomorrow about "7 Steps to Launching a Profitable Membership Site."

Why should you attend?

If you are curious about how to attract more repeat business, build deeper relationships with prospects faster than ever, and/or bring in more revenue without having to work a lot harder or spend more time doing it, then you should definitely register and at least listen to the recording.

In this 60-minute call, you'll discover...

=> The 5 most important questions you must ask yourself before you even think about getting
started

=> How to build it fast and cheaply from scratch

=> The secret to getting lots of members without having to market it

=> How to correctly price and structure your program

=> The 3 mistakes to avoid to ensure that your membership site becomes a source of continual recurring income without becoming a burden...

And much, much more.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Date: Thursday, December 11th, 2008
Time: 10am Pacific/1pm Eastern
(Register even if you can't attend live and you'll receive access to the replay.)
To register, visit:
http://membershipsitesupport.com/
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You can also send me your questions in advance so I can answer them even if you're not on the call.

Please don't let another year go by without learning how to leverage your time so that you can have more freedom, confidence, clients, and money without spending more time in your business.

It's Christmas In...December! Free Graphics

2008-12-10T09:20:00.000-08:00

If you're like most people you are very busy right now juggling business with social engagements, shopping, and/or relationship negotiations. It can feel overwhelming.

For you in the web and design world, here is an INVALUABLE resource to save you a chunk of time and money and give you back a smidgen of sanity.

Check out this list of "50 most Beautiful Icon Sets of 2008" brought to you by noupe.com

Many of the sets are free and if you visit the download sites you can also browse around for some really great (and gratis) graphics.

And if you don't do this sort of work yourself (and good for you for delgating, by the way) then do yourself a favor and pass it along to your webmaster, the lady who designs your business cards, the college kid who aspires to build an online business, etc.

Happy Holidays!

Need to Organize Your Projects?

2008-10-21T11:26:00.000-07:00

In the age of multi-taskers, juggling a wide array of projects might seem commonplace. But add just one too many balls, and you risk losing the lot.

Particularly if you have numerous clients on the books at any given time while also making proposals and bids for new jobs, contracts, or business this new feature from 37 Signals, makers of Highrise, an online project management tool, can make all the difference in the world.

Easily track all the details on pending bids and current jobs as well as track the revenue being brought in by a single client and revenue lost due to mismanagement or being outbid.

Click here to watch a short video on how this nifty tool works.

Are You Throwing $ Down the Google AdWords Drain?

2008-10-07T15:39:00.000-07:00

One of the most effective ways to drive traffic to your web site is through creating campaigns via Google AdWords. It's also one of the most effective ways to lose a ton of money fast on the internet. It's almost as bad as playing online Texas Hold 'Em...

One of my clients recently released an online video tutorial library on how to take advantage of all the little secrets behind creating winning campaigns and becoming an AdWords genius. And he's not just anyone...he literally wrote the book on the subject, AdWords for Dummies.

If you want to watch a cool collection of videos that takes you by the hand and walks you through the AdWords maze, visit the AdWords Look Over My Shoulder videos. You can even sign up to request your own customized video. How cool is that?

This is truly a nifty product that, in my opinion, is priced way too low.

Setting Up Facebook to Attract More Prospects

2008-09-03T17:59:00.001-07:00

Here is the third and final installment in the "Don't Be Afraid...It's Just Facebook" video tutorial series.

In this video, you will learn how the basics of setting up your profile so you don't turn people "off" as well as tips on how to learn more about how to use Facebook correctly.

To watch a higher quality video via my web site, click here.

And if you are interested in grabbing more free video tutorials like this, you can subscribe to my list at the top of the page and receive official announcements about upcoming free audio and video tutorials on other tools such as Twitter, LinkedIn, AWeber, 1ShoppingCart and much more.

Of course, once you set up your Facebook account, invite me to be your friend by clicking here:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=534558276

See you on the News Feed!

How to Sign Up for Your Facebook Account

2008-09-03T17:52:00.000-07:00

This is Part 2 in the "Don't Be Afraid...It's Just Facebook" video tutorial series.

Watch this short video to actually witness how to create a new Facebook account. Once you see how easy it is and learn a few do's and don'ts, you'll have the courage to get yours up and running in no time.

Click play to watch the video below:

To watch a higher quality version of this video, click here.

And don't forget to go all the way and check out Part 3 where I show you how to actually set up your account.

Quick & easy...I promise.